U.S. Cellular launches Wireless Priority Service for emergency workers; Apple reportedly delays launch of HomeKit

Quick news from around the Web.

"Deutsche Telekom Earnings Advance Supported by T-Mobile http://bloom.bg/1Ix38eJ  via @business" --@FierceWireless

> According to IHS, five-inch mobile phone panels experienced a "drastic" year-over-year decline in unit shipments of 34 percent last year--but manufacturing costs fell only 14 percent. Release

> According to a new report, Apple has slightly delayed the launch of its HomeKit service. Article

> Microsoft is converting Nokia stores into "Microsoft Resellers." Article

> AOL CEO Tim Armstrong will get $180 million through Verizon's planned purchase of AOL. Article

> AT&T's Cricket Wireless service is selling Microsoft's Nokia Lumia 640 for $129. Article

> According to UBS, Apple could sell up to 51.1 million iPhones in its current quarter, above expectations. Article

> The FCC will change the name of its Wireless Bureau's Spectrum And Competition Policy division to the "Competition and Infrastructure Policy" division. Article

> Standard General will purchase the RadioShack brand. Article

> Cisco reported a rise in its earnings. Article

> According to a new report, Apple's forthcoming "Apple Music" service, based on Apple's acquisition of Beats, will feature a Ping-like social network for musicians. Article

> Randy Milch, Verizon's executive vice president and strategic policy adviser to CEO Lowell McAdam, will retire. Article

> The House voted to end the NSA's program to collect phone records. Article

> U.S. Cellular said it now offers Wireless Priority Service (WPS), which prioritizes the cellular connections of emergency workers over other carrier customers in an emergency. Article

Wireless Tech News

> Even though the ZigBee Alliance's new vice president of strategic development has been in the industry for more than a decade, he still sees the Internet of Things (IoT) as a very young space. Article

> Boingo Wireless is still in the early days of rolling out carrier Wi-Fi offloading with Sprint, but its Wi-Fi technology is on about 10 million handsets today, growing to 40 million, including some of Sprint's other brands like Virgin Mobile. Article

Telecom News

> While incumbent telcos and some competitors have shied away from providing dark fiber for wireless backhaul, a Zayo executive sees interest and adoption of dark fiber continuing to ramp. Article

Cable News

> Leichtman Research Group found that the 13 largest pay-TV operators grew video subscriptions by less than 10,000 customers in the first quarter, signaling a major slowdown from the 250,000 added in Q1 2014--but not the actual recession signaled by an earlier analyst report. Article

> Talking openly about a prospective merger with Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications President and CEO Tom Rutledge told New York media investors Wednesday that such a deal would be "opportunity driven" and not propelled by the desire to achieve scale for programming negotiations. Article

And finally… Mr. Burns is leaving "The Simpsons." Article